193 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 2, 18£6, 
Violas, purple Verbenas, and Carnations, from which arose 
taller plants of the glaucous Eucalyptus globulus and the 
golden variegated Abutilon marmoratum aureum. Two 
plants that can be advantageously employed in mixed beds or 
alone for massing are Spinea Filipendula plena and Armeria 
cephalotes rubra, both of which have been very beautiful in 
Hyde Park this season margined with Pansies. 
In the second series of beds—namely, those containing 
seedling varieties of one species—numbers of suitable plants 
may be grouped. Some of the leading examples of these are 
Verbenas, Phlox Drummondi, Carnations, Dianthus of the 
Heddewigi type, Pansies, Stocks, Lantanas, Tuberous 
Begonias, Fuchsias, Canterbury Bells, Zinnias, and Heli- 
chrvsums, but many more could be similarly used, and these 
are only named as examples. Zinnias make a handsome 
bed when well grown, and they last well, the colours being 
very rich when seed of a good strain is procured. Mixed 
Verbenas and Phlox Drummondi are very charming plants 
for beds, and now that such excellent strains can be obtained 
they should be much more generally grown. The Phlox in 
particular is represented by a number of forms or types that 
can be had true from seed, so that a most varied and beautiful 
bed can be readily composed. 
As already mentioned, the late Miss Hope gave much 
attention to hardy plants for bedding out, and twelve or 
fifteen years ago she had some beds in her garden that 
delighted many visitors. A few examples of these will serve 
to indicate the method adopted, and those who wish for more 
information on the subject should consult her “ Notes and 
Thoughts on Gardens and Woodlands ” (Macmillan). In 
one bed the groundwork was “the little yellow CEnothera 
prostrata, thinly dotted with Viola Perfection, or any other 
purple, lilac, or blue Viola or Pansy of compact habit.” In 
another the centre plant was “ Yucca gloriosa set in a 
groundwork of dark blue Ajuga purpurascens, dotted with 
Sedum spectabile and edged with variegated Ivy.” A third 
bed which gave great satisfaction consisted of a groundwork 
of Mesembryanthemum tricolor dotted with Echeverias and 
edged with Antennaria tomentosa, and it might be here 
added that Portulacas could be similarly used as a ground 
for many beds, especially in hot dry situations. Combina¬ 
tions of Lobelia fulgens with Tussilago Farfara variegata, 
and Symphytum officinale variegatum with Dielytra spec- 
tabilis, were tried with excellent results, while for a large 
bed the following were employed :—“ Centre plant, Phalaris 
arundinacea elegantissima, surrounded with Aster bessara- 
bicus ; then scarlet Pelargonium, a band of Helleborus niger 
major, the edging being alternate plants of purple-leaved 
Plantago rubescens and Funkia japonica cordata.” These 
examples might be considerably increased in numbers, but 
they will ind cate to those who have paid little attention 
to the subject how much can be done to vary the beauty of 
the flower garden without depriving ourselves of the brightly 
coloured Pelargoniums. 
The culture and propagation of the plants named are fre¬ 
quently described in the weekly calendars, and it is only 
necessary to remark that the hardy annuals can be raised from 
seed sown out of doors in the autumn ; the half-liardy annuals 
can be similarly raised under glass early in spring, and 
transplanted as soon as the weather permits, th 9 hardy 
perennials being divided either in autumn or spring, and the 
tender perennials increased by cuttings under glass in the 
usual way. Sometimes the seed of the annuals is sown in 
the beds where they are to remain, but this has not proved 
very satisfactory either as regards the hardy or half-hardy 
species, and it is preferable to select the seedlings for the 
beds, as they then have a more even appearance. —Flower 
Gardener. 
GROWING FRUIT FOR MARKET. 
EARLY APPLES. 
These always command a ready sale, whether it be the finer 
high-coloured varieties for dessert, or the class known as “ boy” 
Apples, but growers must have something that will take in the 
market—colour, brightness, size, and quality. It is the same 
whether the varieties are for dessert or culinary purposes. 
EATING APPLES. 
Mr. Gladstone.—The earliest Apple with colour; a bright 
scarlet cheek, a yellow flesh, and brisk flavour, very refreshing. 
It grows and fruits freely on the Crab stock, and will keep some 
time. It must supersede Joaneting : White, small and good 
from the tree; Red or Margaret, medium size, which takes better 
than the white and is good, only very soft in flesh. Both the 
Joanetings succeed on the Crab as standards and on the dwarf 
stock in gardens, especially the latter or Red Joaneting. Mr. 
Gladstone does well on the Paradise stock. I have it very good 
as oblique cordons against walls ; it comes in a few days after the 
Joanetings. 
Irish Peach.—The best of the early Apples, very juicy and 
brisk in flavour. A great bearer on the Crab as a standard, on 
which it succeeds best; at least, it does very indifferently with 
me on light soil on the Paradise, even with high culture, but on 
the Crab it is first-rate, not cankering to anything like the same 
extent on this stock even in adverse soils as on the Paradise. The 
fruit is bright in colour when ripe. 
Early Harvest.—A fertile tree on the Crab as a standard. 
Fruit medium sized and, being yellow, slightly coloured on the 
sun side. It is not a taking sort It is, however, excellent, 
having much juice, with a pleasing brisk flavour. It certainly 
ought to have a place in every garden, being very fruitful on the 
Paradise. Red Astrachan is the stamp of fruit we want in an 
early dessert Apple, being large, beautiful, and with a fine glow 
or bloom, but it requires the quality of the Irish Peach. The 
tree is also tender, cankering greatly. 
Yellow Transparent.—This I have only had on the Paradise 
stock. It is a taking fruit, very clear in skin, the flavour sweet, 
brisk, and good, it bears freely and is very pretty for dessert, 
its clear yellow colour and transparent flesh telling in its favour. 
Mr. Laxton, Bedford, sent me three years ago a variety under 
the name of Reaper. I think it different from the American of 
that name. Anyway it was a fruit after the style of White 
Joaneting, larger, but not quite medium sized, round, slightly 
flattened, skin yellowish green, bright or coloured on the sun 
side, flesh rather firm, sweet and brisk in flavour. A vsry good 
Apple, ripe early in September and continuing some days. A 
first-rate grower and bearer, pyramid on the Paradise. 
Devonshire Quarienden.—Well known and one of the best 
market varieties, being very handsome and highly coloured, 
medium sized. Better on the Crab than Paradise, making a 
healthy very free-bearing standard. Some fan-trained trees I 
had on the Crab on an east wall gave very fine, large, brilliantly 
coloured fruit. Those that want telling fruit for dessert should 
grow Apples against walls, taking care to supply them with water 
passed through a mulching of manure in hot weather. 
Kerry Pippin.—Small, but larger on the Crab than the Para¬ 
dise stock; a free healthy grower and capital cropper as a 
standard. Very old and very good, alike in looks as it is unex¬ 
ceptional in quality. 
The varieties l advise of the early de-sert Apples are Mr. 
Gladstone, Irish Peach, Devonshire Quarrenden, and Kerry 
Pippin. 
EARLY KITCHEN APPLES. 
Keswick Codlin.—Still the best very early culinary Apple. 
Good either as a standard on the Crab or a dwarf on the 
Paradise. 
Lord Suffield.—One of the best, but not a good grower as a 
standard on the Crab. Best on the Paradise, and not long healthy 
on that. 
Yorkshire Beauty.—Large, bright yellow, bright red cheek. 
A telling sort and free on the Crab as a standard. It must 
become a great favourite; the flesh tender and brisk in flavour. 
It is a good grower and an excellent variety, sent out by Messrs. 
Smith, Worcester. 
Duchess of Oldenburgli.—Good in size, beautiful in appearance, 
being handsomely striped, brisk pleasing flavour, good for eating 
as well as cooking, a great cropper, making a profitable 
standard. 
Stirling Castle.—After the Hawthornden type. A great 
cropper, but not so good as a standard on the Crab as a dwarf on 
the Paradise stock. The fruit keeps some time. Like the 
Hawthornden, the fruit is much subject to “ pit ” in some 
soils. 
Worcester Pearmain —Very handsome, good size, and great 
cropper. Does well as a standard on Crab, and is very free as a 
dwarf on the Paradise Keeps for weeks and is not a bad eating 
sort. Introduced by Messrs. Smith, Worcester. 
